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J3a  'Palatiae  i]ll.,  and  ^iciaity. 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


scopalChur 


"1 

J 


S - IN - <9 


PSIiSTINE  SKD  VICINITY, 

f 

EMBRACING  A  PERIOD  OF  OVER  FIFTY  YEARS. 


Prepared  in  1887 

BY  ORDER  OF  THE  PALATINE  QUARTERLY  CONFERENCE. 


BY  REV.  HENRY  LEA , 

t 

SPsos-tor  cf  ^solaotin-e  E.  Olxu-rcls.. 


Elgin,  Illinois: 

NEWS-ADVOCATE  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINTING  HOUSE, 

1887. 


CONTENTS. 


Preface. 

Chapter  I — Fragments  of  History  Previous  to  the  Con¬ 
ference  of  1840. 

Chapter  II — Rock  River  Conference  organized.  The 
Wheeling,  Lake  and  Elk  Grove  Circuits.  Deer 
Grove  Class  from  1840  to  1857. 

Chapter  III — Organization  at  Palatine.  Dissolution  of 
Deer  Grove  Class.  Revival  and  Church  Building. 
1857  to  1859. 

Chapter  IV — Other  Revivals.  DesPlaines  Camp  Meet¬ 
ing.  Pastorates  from  1859  to  1863 

Chapter  V — Palatine  as  a  Station.  Remodeling  of 
Church  Building.  Pastorates  from  1863  to  1870 

Chapter  VI — Pastorates  from  1870  to  1880.  Death  of 
a  faithful  Pastor.  Revivals. 

Chapter  VII  —  From  1880  to  1887.  Parsonage  built 
and  Church  Renovated.  Blessed  Revival. 

Chapter  VIII — Officiary  of  Church  and  Sabbath  School. 
List  of  Members  and  Probationers,  1887. 


4. 


PREFACE. 

The  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Palatine  M.  E.  Church 
appointed  a  committee  of  three,  to  prepare  and  print  a  his¬ 
tory  of  the  church.  R.  S.  Williamson  and  James  A\  ilson 
were  associated  with  the  Pastor,  Henry  Lea,  upon  that 
Committee.  While  each  member  of  the  committee  assis¬ 
ted,  the  work  of  writing  devolved  upon  the  Pastor. 

We  wish  the  work  were  better  done,  hut  every  known 
source  has  been  ransacked  for  materials.  Every  living  ex¬ 
pastor,  whose  address  could  he  found,  was  requested  to 
write  up  his  own  pastorate.  Many  responded  and  the  facts 
given,  and  often  the  language,  are  reproduced  in  these  pa¬ 
ges,  Others  failed  to  assist;  if  their  work  is  meagerly  re¬ 
ported  the  writer  is  not  to  blame. 

In  some  cases  Quarterly  Conference  Records  and  Pastor’s 
Reports  have  been  found  full  of  information;  in  other  cases 
these  have  been  so  meager  as  to  afford  little  help,  or  have 
been  lacking  altogether. 

Much  help  has  come  from  “  Memorials  of  Methodism” 
by  Rev.  A.  D.  Field,  a  volume  every  Methodist  in  Rock 
River  Conference  should  possess.  The  Conference  Minutes 
from  1853  to  1887  have  been  thoroughly  searched.  And 
finally,  Methodist  Old  Settlers,  among  them  James  Wilson, 
Mrs.  H.  P.  Williams  and  Wm.  Lytle  have  furnished  items. 

As  to  the  mention  of  individual  laymen  entitled  to 
prominence,  the  writer  has  trusted  mainly  to  the  sugges- 
tions  of  the  pastors  who  have  aided  him.  Some  may  have 
failed  to  receive  the  honor  they  deserve,  but  not  purposely. 

"A* 


Words  of  eulogy  have  been  reserved  for  the  dead  or  dis¬ 
tant;  it  would  be  invidious  to  select  a  few  names  from  the 
many  faithful  who  live  among  us,  as  subjects  for  praise. 

Great  pains  has  been  taken  to  verify  every  name,  date 
and  incident;  we  believe  the  book  reasonably  free  from 
error.  But  for  their  compilation,  many  facts  herein,  would 
soon  lie  buried  with  those  who  keep  them  in  memory.  We 
hope  these  pages  may  inspire  others  to  gather  additional 
material  to  be  put  in  shape  by  some  later  hand. 

R.  S.  Williamson, 
James  Wilson, 

Henry  Lea, 

Committee. 

Palatine,  III.,  Sept.  7,  1887. 


The  M.  E.  Church  in  Palatine  and  Vicinity. 


Chapter  I. 

FROM  1835  TO  1840. 


The  history  of  Methodism  in  the  village  of  Palatine 
began  in  1857.  The  Deer  Grove  Class,  a  forerunner  of  the 
Palatine  Church,  and  situated  in  the  township,  began  as 
early  as  1840.  Even  this  is  not  the  beginning,  and  like  the 
true  explorer  we  must  seek  to  trace  the  river  to  its  source. 

Previous  to  1840  the  facts  gleaned  are  fragmentary,  and 
since  no  historian  can  have  the  power  of  a  Cuvier  to 
describe  the  entire  skeleton,  guided  only  by  a  single  bone, 
this  chapter  can  be  nothing  but  fragmentary. 

The  first  white  settlers  came  into  the  bounds  of  the 
present  township  of  Palatine  in  1886;  in  1850  the  township 
was  organized.  The  earliest  settlers  and  the  circuit  rider 
as  usual  entered  the  country  at  about  the  same  time.  In 
the  fall  of  1885  Wm.  Royal  was  appointed  to  the  Fox 
River  Mission.  This  circuit  was  about  75  miles  square, 
embracing  the  greater  portion  of  Cook,  DuPage,  Lake, 
McHenry,  Boone,  DeKalb,  Kane  and  Kendall  counties. 
In  1836  a  circuit  somewhat  smaller  was  named  DesPlaines 
Circuit.  It  included  a  strip  of  Illinois  whose  southern 
boundary  was  from  Chicago  to  Aurora,  and  extended  north¬ 
ward  to  the  Wisconsin  line.  On  account  of  sickness,  Wm. 


6 


Royal  who  had  charge,  was  succeeded  by  Washington 
Wilcox. 

I  wish  space  permitted  us  to  give  the  account  of  his  first 
round  of  the  circuit  over  the  trackless  prairie  in  the  snow. 
As  given  in  his  own  language,  in  A.  D,  Field’s  book,  it  is 
truly  thrilling.  The  journey  to  Plum  Grove  (in  Palatine 
township)  from  Elgin,  was  eventful  enough  to  be  a  chap¬ 
ter  in  some  Robinson  Crusoe.  Not  until  within  three  miles 
of  his  destination,  and  the  place  was  in  sight,  could  he  find 
anyone  who  had  the  slightest  idea  where  Plum  Grove  was 
located.  But  good  common  sense  and  an  indomitable  will 
conquered,  and  at  last  though  rather  late,  Brother  Wilcox 
reached  his  waiting  congregation.  After  this  service  he 
rode  to  Elk  Grove  where  he  preached  that  evening.  Wm. 
Royal  had  organized  a  class  at  Elk  Grove  in  1886,  and  at 
Wheeling  the  same  year,  or  earlier.  The  Plum  Grove 
Class  was  organized  by  W.  Wilcox  in  1887.  Deer  Grove 
was  also  a  preaching  place  as  early  as  1886  or  1887. 

The  printed  history  of  Cook  County  gives  account  of 
a  sermon  by  O.  E.  Hall,  at  Plum  Grove  in  July,  1889,  and 
states  that  he  continued  to  preach  there  voluntarily,  once  in 
four  weeks.  Brother  Hall  was  an  efficient  local  helper  on 
the  Circuit  for  many  years,  leaving  it  in  1878,  but  we  see 
this  was  not  the  first  effort  to  establish  preaching  in  the 
township  of  Palatine. 

In  1888  the  Elgin  Circuit  was  formed.  It  was  forty 
miles  square,  including  all  of  Illinois  between  Fox  River 
and  Lake  Michigan,  north  of  a  line  from  Chicago  to  St. 
Charles.  J.  M.  Snow  and  H.  W.  Frink  were  the  preach¬ 
ers  ;  the  latter  lived  at  Wheeling.  During  this  year  a  great 
revival  meeting  was  held  on  Poplar  Creek,  near  Elgin,  but 
we  have  no  details  of  the  work  in  this  part  of  the  Circuit. 

Among  the  four  local  preachers  on  the  Circuit  this  year, 


7 


was  one  who  became  Preacher  in  charge  a  year  or  two 
later,  viz  :  John  Nason,  previously  a  member  of  the  New 
England  Conference.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Illinois 
Conference  ;  and  at  the  division  in  1840,  of  the  Rock  River 
Conference.  In  1848  he  located,  and  died  in  1865,  at  Rock¬ 
ford,  Ills.  His  children  and  grandchildren  have  since  done 
honor  to  his  name,  as  members  and  officials  in  the  Palatine 
Church. 

Concerning  the  preachers  of  this  year,  J.  M.  Snow  con¬ 
tinued  in  the  active  ministry  until  1852,  the  most  of  his 
appointments  being  in  Wisconsin,  and  died  in  Chicago  in 
1862.  H.  W.  Frink’s  work  has  also  mainly  been  in  Wis¬ 
consin,  where  we  believe  he  still  lives. 

In  the  year  1889-40  John  Nason  and  J.  M.  Snow  were 
the  preachers  on  the  Elgin  Circuit.  We  believe  the  terri¬ 
tory  of  which  we  write  was  included  within  its  bounds 
this  year  also  ;  but  we  have  no  details  of  the  work.  Dur¬ 
ing  the  period  from  1886  to  1840  John  Clark  was  Presiding 
Elder  of  Chicago  District. 

Before  closing  this  chapter  of  fragments,  we  quote  Sey¬ 
mour  Stover,  whose  own  work  on  the  charge  we  shall  see 
later.  “As  early  as  1837,  before  the  organization  of  Rock 
River  Conference,  Henry  Frink  and  Washington  Wilcox 
were  preaching  along  the  Des  Plaines  River.  I  heard  Wil¬ 
cox  preach  in  a  log  school  house,  about  one  mile  above 
Wheeling,  in  May,  1837.  The  house  was  about  14  feet 
square,  with  puncheon  floor,  shake  roof,  no  ceiling,  and 
chinked  but  not  plastered.  There  were  present  men,  women 
and  children,  fourteen  in  all.  After  that  I  only  remember 
John  Nason  and  Ora  A.  Walker,  but  I  do  not  know  how 
far  west  they  went  from  the  river.” 


8 


Chapter  II. 

FROM  1840  TO  1857- 

The  year  1840  marked  an  epoch  in  Illinois  Methodism, 
for  then  Rock  River  Conference  was  organized.  It]  in¬ 
cluded  more  of  Illinois  than  the  present  Rock  River  Confer¬ 
ence,  with  the  whole  of  Wisconsin  and  Iowa  added. 

The  first  session  of  Rock  River  Conference  was  held  in 
connection  with  a  Camp  Meeting,  on  Pine  Creek,  near  the 
then  newly  laid  out  village,  Mt.  Morris.  The  sessions  of 
Conference  were  held  in  a  log  house  some  distance  from 
the  Camp  Ground. 

But  to  return  to  our  own  story.  The  Quarterly  Confer¬ 
ence  Record  from  1840  to  1851  still  exists  in  perfect  shape, 
thanks  to  the  late  Bartlett  Wheeler  and  family  of  Arlington 
Heights.  If  later  records  had  been  equally  well  preserved 
the  preparation  of  this  work  would  have  been  an  easy  task. 

The  first  Quarterly  Meeting  of  the  new  Wheeling  Cir¬ 
cuit,  was  held  at  Wheeling,  Saturday,  October  31,  1840. 
The  following  is  the  first  entry:  “It  having  been  found 
that  the  division  of  the  Wheeling  and  Lake  Circuits  was 
attended  with  serious  inconveniences  and  disadvantages, 
with  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  preachers,  and  of  the 
members  of  both  Circuits,  the  Presiding  Elder  united  them 
in  one  Circuit,  Brother  John  Nason  having  the  charge  of  the 
wdiole.”  It  further  appears  from  the  minutes  that  William 
Gaddis  was  assistant  preacher,  and  John  F.  Mitchell,  Pre¬ 
siding  Elder.  William  Gaddis  was  an  Irishman,  and  is 
described  by  one  who  knew  him  as  “eloquent  and  child¬ 
like/’  Though  of  middle  age  when  he  commenced  his 
ministry,  he  was  successful,  dying  in  the  work,  at  Peoria, 
about  1850. 


9 


As  early  as  in  1840,  and  possibly  earlier,  a  class  was 
formed  at  Deer  Grove  ;  what  became  of  the  still  earlier 
Plum  Grove  class  we  do  not  know.  But  it  is  with  the  Deer 
Grove  class,  the  immediate  predecessor  of  the  Palatine 
Church,  we  are  now  the  most  concerned.  At  this  point 
some  revival  meetings  were  held  early  in  1841,  but  with  no 
very  marked  results. 

As  early  as  June,  1841,  a  Camp  Meeting  was  held  on 
DesPlaines  River,  near  Wheeling,  several  miles  north  of 
the  locatiou  of  the  now  famous  DesPlaines  Camp  Ground. 
But  be  it  remembered,  in  those  days  of  large  Circuits,  each 
Circuit  carried  on  its  own  Camp  Meeting.  It  was  not  till 
twenty  years  later  that  the  Chicago  District  Camp  Meeting 
was  organized  at  DesPlaines.  For  the  year  1841-2  the 
Circuit  was  called  Lake.  Ora  A.  Walker  was  Preacher  in 
charge.  He  still  lives,  a  supearnnuated  member  of  Rock 
River  Conference,  residing  at  Princeton,  Ills.  At  the  time 
under  consideration,  he  was  a  young  man  a  little  over  30, 
his  name  frequently  appearing  in  all  records  of  early  pioneer 
work  in  Illinois.  William  Gaddis  was  assistant,  and  Joseph 
Lewis  a  portion  of  the  year.  A  motion  made  this  year  to 
purchase  a  parsonage  near  Wheeling  failed  to  carry.  The 
old  name,  Wheeling  Circuit,  was  revived  next  year,  1842 — 
3.  Hooper  Crews  was  now  Presiding  Elder.  Ora  A. 
Walker  was  returned  a  second  year  to  the  charge,  with  N. 
P.  Swift  as  assistant.  The  latter  was  admitted  to  Confer¬ 
ence  two  years  previous,  and  was  described  as  “young, 
ambitious,  zealous,  and  acceptable.”  In  his  farewell  ser¬ 
mon,  among  other  things,  he  said  in  substance  :  “  When  I 

am  gone,  and  in  the  future  make  inquiry  about  my  friends 
on  the  old  Wheeling  Circuit,  I  shall  not  ask  how  many 
acres  you  own,  or  how  much  stock  you  have  raised,  or  how 
much  money  you  have  accumulated,  but  I  shall  ask  how 


10 


much  you  have  grown  spiritually.”  At  this  early  day  but 
little  Sabbath  School  work  had  been  done.  Only  one 
school  was  reported  on  this  great  Circuit,  and  part  of  the 
time  there  was  none. 

The  next  year  and  the  year  following,  1843  to  1845, 
Nathan  Jewett  was  Preacher  in  charge,  with  Asa  White 
and  E.  G.  Wood  for  assistants  the  first  year  and  J.  Hinman 
and  John  Nason  the  second  year.  Hooper  Crews  was  Pre¬ 
siding  Elder  the  first  year,  and  the  second  year  J.  P.  Good¬ 
rich  succeeded  him.  At  this  time  a  Parsonage  was  built  at 
Buffalo  Grove,  and  only  a  few  weeks  ago  the  writer  heard 
an  old  settler  sound  the  praises  of  Brother  Jewett’s  well- 
kept  garden.  But  the  records  show  that  Nathan  Jewett 
was  equally  diligent  in  his  spiritual  garden.  One  very 
noteworthy  feature  was  the  large  number  of  Infant  Bap¬ 
tisms,  as  many  as  seventeen  in  one  quarter  of  the  year.  It 
is  not  to  the  credit  of  Methodism  that  this  good  old  custom 
is  often  neglected  in  these  later  days. 

One  item  of  the  record  is  refreshing:  “  Brother - ’s 

license  as  Local  Preacher  is  renewed  and  the  preacher  in 
charge  is  requested  to  take  him  to  task  on  account  of  his 
tediousness.”  Another  fact  will  interest  all  believers  in  the 
enlargement  of  woman’s  sphere.  Elizabeth  Atkinson  was 
recommended  by  the  Deer  Grove  Class,  for  a  license  to 
preach.  The  Presiding  Elder  suggested  that  she  should 
first  be  licensed  as  an  exliorter.  This  was  done  and  for  a 
year  and  a  half  the  license  was  regularly  renewed.  Sister 
Atkinson’s  exhortations  however  were  sometimes  sermons. 
On  one  occasion  when  preaching  where  there  was  a  great 
deal  of  sneering  and  trifling  she  announced  her  text,  Job 
21:3,  ‘'Suffer  me  that  I  may  speak,  and  after  that  I  have 
spoken,  mock  on.”  One  of  the  assistants  before  mentioned, 


11 


J.  Hinman,  went  to  California  in  1851,  and  it  is  said  was 
preaching  there  as  late  as  1864. 

Elk  Grove  was  the  name  the  Circuit  bore  the  next  year, 
1845-6.  James  Mitchell  was  then  Presiding  Elder,  Henry 
Whitehead,  Preacher  in  charge,  and  James  Lackenby 
assistant.  The  latter  two  were  Englishmen  and  each  bore 
licenses  as  Local  Preachers  when  they  came  to  this  country. 
Brother  Whitehead  while  on  this  charge  suffered  severely 
from  exposure,  and  was  obliged  to  superannuate  the  next 
year,  never  being  able  to  take  up  the  work  again.  Yet  for 
forty  years,  in  business  relations  and  church  work,  his 
name  was  an  honor  to  Methodism  in  Chicago,  where  he 
died  in  1885.  Brother  Lackenby  was  thrown  from  his 
buggy  and  killed  when  on  his  way  to  an  appointment  in  1847. 
A  part  of  the  old  Circuit  was  now  designated,  without  any 
apparent  reason,  Chicago  City  Mission.  This  new  Circuit 
had  its  own  preachers  and  stewards;  but  for  two  years  the 
Quarterly  Conferences  of  the  two  Circuits  were  held  jointly. 

By  this  time  Sabbath  School  interests  received  more 
attention.  Five  schools  wTere  reported,  with  22  officers 
and  teachers,  153  scholars,  297  volumes  in  the  libraries  and 
$15.50  raised  to  meet  expenses.  The  schools  were  closed 
however  during  the  winter  half  of  the  year. 

Each  summer  during  these  years  a  Camp  Meeting  was 
held  near  Wheeling,  and  the  Fourth  Quarterly  Meeting 
each  year  was  held  in  connection  therewith. 

From  1846  to  1848  the  Circuit,  again  named  Wheeling, 
was  in  charge  of  Seymour  Stover.  Christopher  Lazenby 
was  assistant  the  first  year  and  Francis  A.  Read  the  second 
year.  Brothers  Stover  and  Lazenby  survive  as  superannu¬ 
ates  of  Rock  River  Conference.  Both  were  born  in  1814; 
the  latter  in  England,  the  former  in  New  England.  Brother 
Lazenby  now  lives  in  Ottumwa,  Iowa;  Seymour  Stover 


resides  at  Wheaton,  Ill.,  and  for  years  has  been  very  infirm. 
A  volume  of  sermons  published  some  years  ago,  will  give 
the  reader  a  fair  idea  of  Bro.  Stover’s  ability.  At  the  cost 
of  considerable  pain  and  effort  Bro.  S.  furnished  a  brief 
and  excellent  account  of  his  work.  We  reproduce  it  in  his 
own  language  :  “  I  received  my  appointment  in  1846  from 
Bishop  Hamline  at  Galena,  to  Wheeling  Circuit.  I  stayed 
two  years,  the  full  term  at  that  period;  the  parsonage  was 
at  Buffalo  Grove,  a  mile  or  two  northwest  from  Wheeling- 
Some  of  our  preaching  places  were  Wheeling,  Buffalo 
Grove,  Dunkley’s  Grove,  Elk  Grove,  Deer  Grove,  Russell's 
Grove,  Lake  Zurich  and  Flint  Creek  (now  Barrington). 
There  were  other  appointments,  but  these  were  the  princi¬ 
pal  ones.  My  colleague  the  first  year  was  Christopher 
Lazenby.  He  was  employed  by  the  Presiding  Elder  and 
was  taken  on  trial  by  the  Rock  River  Conference  at  the 
next  session.  The  second  year  my  colleague  was  F.  A. 
Read,  still  living,  loved  and  honored,  as  always.  James 
Mitchell,  brother  of  John  P.  Mitchell,  was  Presiding  Elder 
the  first  year  and  John  Chandler  held  that  office  the  second. 

We  were  blessed  with  continued  prosperity  during  the 
whole  term.  Revivals  and  accessions  were  constant.  We 
had  two  Camp  Meetings,  one  each  year,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  DesPlaines,  opposite  Wheeling  ;  they  were  glorious 
seasons  of  spiritual  power  and  profit.  And  we  did  not  go 
beyond  our  Circuit  for  help  to  make  a  Camp  Meeting  ;  wre 
resolved  to  have  a  Camp  Meeting,  and  Ave  had  it. 

In  the  early  spring  of  1848,  we  had  a  revival  meeting  on 
the  south  side  of  Deer  Grove,  a  mile  or  so  from  where 
Palatine  is  now.  [Brother  Stover  has  rather  underesti¬ 
mated  the  distance  which  is  two  or  three  miles.]  I  have 
seldom  seen  richer  or  mightier  scenes  of  the  power  of  God 
than  wrere  displayed  there.  About  eighty  were  converted 


IB 


in  the  vicinity,  and  there  the  foundation  timbers  of  the 
Palatine  Church  were  prepared.  Names  of  fellow  workers 
crowd  my  memory  as  I  write:  they  have  nearly  all  gone 
on  before  to  the  sweet  rest  of  Heaven.  O!  holy  ones  be¬ 
fore  the  throne!  I  am  coming  to  share  your  glory;  and 
with  you  to  survey  from  Mt.  Zion  our  battle-field,  where 
God  overthrew  His  foes,  and  gave  us  the  victory.” 

We  add  an  item  or  two.  In  the  present  membership  of 
Palatine  Church,  James  Wilson  still  remains,  a  trophy  of 
that  revival.  Concerning  F.  A.  Read,  so  kindly  mentioned 
by  Brother  Stover,  we  need  only  add  he  has  filled  many  of 
our  best  appointments,  served  a  full  term  as  Presiding  Elder 
of  Freeport  District,  and  is  now  stationed  at  Van  Brocklin. 
Many  efforts  were  made  at  this  time  to  sell  or  remove  the 
parsonage  to  a  more  suitable  place.  A  few  years  later  such 
a  change  was  effected.  An  attempt  was  also  made  to  build 
a  church  at  Deer  Grove;  Thomas  Wilson  and  Asaliel  Har¬ 
ris  were  appointed  a  committee  to  make  estimates.  At  that 
time  a  village  was  expected,  but  it  never  came,  neither  did 
the  church;  the  star  of  destiny  was  to  favor  Palatine. 

We  now  come  to  the  pastorate  of  Robert  Beatty  from 
1848  to  1850.  He  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  now  a  superannu¬ 
ate  of  Rock  River  Conference,  hale  and  hearty  for  a  man 
of  72,  residing  at  Rockford,  Ills.  He  afforded  valuable 
help  in  the  preparation  of  this  history.  Hooper  Crews  was 
Presiding  Elder  the  first  year,  and  Asaliel  L.  Risley  the 
second  year.  The  assistant  preachers  were  first  Sherrid 
Robinson,  then  the  year  following,  S.  A.  W.  Jewett  andP. 
Richardson.  Of  Brother  Jewett  we  have  more  to  say  by- 
and-by.  Of  the  history  of  Brothers  Robinson  and  Richard¬ 
son  we  know  nothing.  There  were  now  fourteen  appoint¬ 
ments  on  the  Circuit.  At  some  of  them,  revivals  gladdened 
the  hearts  of  preachers  and  people.  At  Deer  Grove  the 


14 


principal  work  was  caring  for  and  building  up  the  converts 
of  the  recent  revival,  yet  here  some  conversions  took  place. 
The  Deer  Grove  Class  now  numbered  54.  During  this 
pastorate  a  committee  was  appointed  to  plan  and  build  a 
parsonage  at  Elk  Grove.  At  a  later  meeting  it  was  reported 
that  the  old  parsonage  at  Buffalo  Grove  could  be  sold,  and 
the  proposition  for  a  site  at  Elk  Grove,  made  by  Brother 
Wheeler  was  accepted.  As  nearly  as  we  can  ascertain  a 
year  or  two  elapsed  before  this  work  was  consummated. 
Brother  James  Wilson  remembers  moving  Brother  Poole 
from  the  old  parsonage  at  Buffalo  Grove  to  Elk  Grove, 
this  was  probably  in  the  year  1851-2. 

In  the  year  1850-1,  H.  Morehouse  and  S.  A.  W.  Jewett 
were  the  preachers.  Authorities  differ  as  to  which  was  in 
charge  and  which  assistant,  but  we  think  the  order  given 
is  correct.  Few  items  concerning  this  year  appear,  but 
two  facts  are  significant,  a  growth  in  Sunday  School  work 
and  an  advance  in  Missionary  spirit:  Nine  schools  were 
reported,  with  84  officers  and  teachers  and  27G  scholars;  the 
extravagant  amount  of  $8  was  expended  in  their  mainte¬ 
nance  for  the  quarter.  As  to  Missions:  The  question 
*  ‘what  has  been  raised  for  Missions?  ”  was  often  answered 
by  “nothing.”  Two  years  previously  the  Circuit  contribu¬ 
ted  but  $1.57  so  the  record  of  $17.21  this  year,  small  in 
itself,  marks  a  great  advance. 

Concerning  the  preachers,  we  know  nothing  about  the 
later  historv  of  Brother  Morcffiouse.  S.  A.  W.  Jewett  was 
at  this  time  24  years  of  age.  He  rapidly  gained  distinction, 
and  became  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Conference.  He  filled 
the  best  charges,  was  Presiding  Elder  of  three  different 
districts,  and  was  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1881,  for  the 
second  term  Presiding  Elder  of  Joliet  district.  He  was 
four  times  a  delegate  to  General  Conference.  The  expres- 


15 


sion  “  that  superb  man,”  used  concerning  him  by  an  admi¬ 
rer  was  none  too  strong. 

The  record  for  the  year  1851-2  is  somewhat  vague. 
Bro.  Poole  was  on  the  Circuit  this  year;  so  we  believe  was 
a  supply  named  Gay.  Whether  either  or  both  served  the 
whole  year  we  do  not  know.  Brother  Poole  was  greatly 
beloved  by  his  people. 

Then  came  Henry  Minard;  he  was  in  charge  from  1852 
to  1854.  He  has  been  superannuated  since  1860  and  resides 
at  Oswego,  Ill.  He  came  to  the  Rock  River  Conference  as 
a  transfer  from  the  Oneida  Conference  in  1843.  The  first 
year  Brother  Minard’s  assistant  was  Charles  French,  an 
Englishman,  who  did  30  years  effective  work  as  a  Local 
Preacher  before  entering  the  traveling  ministry,  and  then 
for  about  20  years  did  effective  work  as  a  member  of  Rock 
River  Conference.  He  was  noted  for  fine  social  qualities,  a 
man  to  love  and  be  loved.  He  died  in  1872,  two  years  after 
his  superannuation.  Brother  Markle  was  assistant  in  1853 
— 4;  we  have  no  facts  concerning  him. 

In  1854  John  Sinclair  was  closing  his  term  as  Presiding 
Elder,  and  J.  J.  Gridley  came  to  Wheeling  Circuit.  He 
did  not  remain  long  in  the  Conference.  In  1856  and  1857 
he  was  a  superannuate,  the  next  year  his  name  disappeared 
from  the  minutes.  We  are  indebted  to  Mrs.  H.  P.  Wil¬ 
liams  for  several  incidents;  among  them  two  concerning 
Brother  Gridley.  He  was  an  intense  abolitionist;  and 
when  preaching  at  Elk  Grove  on  this  subject  his  text 
was  from  Psalm  94,  20,  “Shall  the  throne  of  iniquity 
have  fellowship  with  thee,  which  frameth  mischief  by  a 
law?”  A  pro-slavery  listener  sneered  at  first,  but  by-and-by 
her  black  eyes  snapped;  as  the  preacher  unmercifully  rid¬ 
dled  the  institution  of  slavery.  On  another  occasion,  this 
time  a  temperance  meeting,  a  number  of  preachers  were  on 


16 


the  platform,  and  Gov.  Bross  was  addressing  the  meeting. 
He  spoke  of  the  advance  in  temperance  sentiment,  refer¬ 
ring  to  the  old  days  when,  in  his  father's  house  many  a 
preacher  had  sought  inspiration  from  the  bottle.  Then 
turning  to  the  preachers  he  said:  “  What  would  be  thought 
if  you  preachers  should  seek  help  from  such  a  source?” 
Quick  as  a  flash  Brother  Gridley  answered,  “If  we  did,  the 
inspiration  would  be  more  spirituous  than  spiritual.”  This 
brought  down  the  house. 

As  a  local  helper  on  the  charge  this  year,  was  T.  H. 
Hagerty.  The  year  following  he  entered  Rock  River  Con¬ 
ference;  at  an  early  day  he  transferred  to  Missouri,  where 
he  has  twice  been  appointed  Presiding  Elder,  and  where  he 
now  lives.  The  writer  met  him  at  Lake  Bluff  a  few  weeks 
ago,  and  would  undoubtedly  have  gained  from  him  much  in¬ 
formation,  but  for  the  absence  of  all  his  memoranda.  Bro. 
Hagerty’s  parents  were  among  the  early  Methodists  of  Lake 
County,  where  some  of  the  family  still  reside. 

W.  P.  Jones  took  charge  of  the  Circuit  in  1855,  remain 
ing  one  year,  and  at  the  same  time  J.  W.  Agard  began  a 
four  years’  term  as  Presiding  Elder.  Brother  Jones  had 
been  twenty  years  a  useful  Local  Preacher  when  he  joined 
Conference  in  1848.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Woman’s  College  at  Evanston,  and  was  for  years  at  its 
head.  He  was  also  a  poet  of  no  mean  order.  He  super' 
annuated  in  1873.  and  died  in  1886.  A  supply,  S.  Smith 
by  name,  assisted  Brother  Jones  on  this  Circuit. 

In  1856  came  H.  S.  Trumbull,  with  J.  W.  Odell  as  assist¬ 
ant.  They  both  passed  from  the  Conference  records  in  a 
short  time.  Brother  Trumbull  located  at  the  next  session 
of  Conference.  An  amusing  incident  concerning  Brother 
Trumbull  is  well  authenticated.  Preaching  on  one  occa¬ 
sion  .at  Peer  Grove,  in  a  house  now  occupied  by  Mr, 


17 


Schoppe,  he  stood  in  a  hall  between  two  rooms.  He  said 
afterwards,  that  by  turning  first  to  one  room,  and  then  to 
the  other,  he  tried  to  give  each  half  of  his  congregation  an 
equal  share  of  the  sermon. 

In  closing  this  chapter,  it  is  due  both  reader  and  writer  to 
say  that  no  Quarterly  Conference  Records  have  been  ac¬ 
cessible  from  1851  to  1857,  hence  the  facts  about  the  work 
are  very  few,  as  here  related. 


Chapter  III. 

FROM  1857  TO  1859. 

This  was  a  transition  time  for  Methodism  in  Palatine 
township.  The  one  time  hope  of  a  village  and  church  build¬ 
ing  at  Deer  Grove  had  faded  out.  Palatine  was  becoming 
the  center  and  was  already  a  growing  village.  As  the  organ¬ 
ization  was  made  and  perfected  at  Palatine,  the  Deer  Grove 
class  was  dissolved  part  coming  to  Palatine,  and  part  going 
to  Barrington  and  other  points. 

The  leader  of  those  days,  Thomas  Cochran,  now  living 
at  Masonville,  Iowa,  still  uses  his  pen  ably,  and  furnished 
26  closely  written  pages  from  which  we  glean;  hence  for 
once  we  have  an  abundance  of  material. 

In  the  fall  of  1857  Thomas  Cochran  was  appointed  to 
Wheeling  Circuit.  The  appointments  were  Elk  Grove, 
Deer  Grove,  Barrington,  Wauconda,  Fairfield,  and  Buffalo 
Grove.  Local  preachers  were  the  only  ministerial  help, 
hence  Bro.  Cochran  reached  each  appointment  but  once  in 
three  weeks,  and  never  failed  to  find  souls  eager  for  the  gos- 


18 


pel;  “the  word  of  the  Lord  was  precious  in  those  days.” 
At  this  time  Palatine  was  a  small  village  without  Church, 

C  1 

Sahbatli  School,  or  any  kind  of  religious  service.  Sunday 
was  given  over  to  drinking,  profanity,  secular  business  and 
pleasure;  hitherto  it  had  been  passed  by,  apparently  as  a 
hopeless  point.  There  were  but  a  few  Christians,  who  held 
their  church  membership  elsewhere.  In  Xovember,  1857, 
preaching  services  were  commenced  in  the  school  house, 
and  held  once  in  four  weeks.  A  few  members  were  se¬ 
cured  and  organized  into  a  Methodist  Class  ;a  small  but  impor¬ 
tant  beginning.  In  the  winter  following  a  large  revival  at 
Elk  Grove  inspired  the  faithful  few  at  Palatine  with  hope 
and  desire.  So  a  four  weeks’  series  of  meetings  was  held 
in  the  Palatine  school  house.  The  mere  announcement 
aroused  opposition;  parties,  dances  and  sleigh  rides  were 
multiplied  to  distract  attention,  but  the  Christian  few  were 
in  earnest  and  invaded  stores,  shops  and  houses  in  Christ’s 
name.  More  than  once  the  faithful  pastor  was  told  to  mind 
his  own  business.  But  opposition  was  futile  and  soon 
ceased;  the  influence  of  the  meeting  was  felt  for  miles 
around;  and  the  school  house  was  crowded  till  scarcely  space 
enough  remained  for  a  mourner's  bench.  One  of  the  ring¬ 
leaders  of  the  opposition,  G.  W.  Hawks,  was  converted, 
and  afterwards  did  twelve  years  useful  work  as  a  Preacher 
in  Rock  River  Conference. 

Says  Brother  Cochran,  “  That  meeting  was  the  turning 
point  in  the  History  of  Palatine.  It  was  like  the  opening 
of  spring  after  a  cold  and  dreary  winter;  it  was  the  visita¬ 
tion  of  abundance  after  the  destroying  famine;  it  was  peace 
after  the  contlict  on  the  battlefield;  it  was  health  from  the 
borders  of  the  grave."  Brother  Cochran  mentions  several 
very  thrilling  conversions.  We  give  space  for  one,  in  de¬ 
tail,  and  wish  we  had  room  for  all.  Says  Brother  C: 


19 


“One  evening  of  the  meeting  while  Christians  and  mourn¬ 
ers  were  earnestly  pleading  for  the  salvation  of  sinners,  a 
young  lady  broke  out  into  the  most  intense  supplication  for 
herself  and  her  father.  So  earnestly  did  she  pray,  that  as 
the  voice  was  new  in  the  meeting,  it  was  supposed  that 
some  old  Christian  had  dropped  in  that  evening  with  her 
unconverted  parent.  She  was  kneeling  with  body  erect, 
her  head  a  little  thrown  back,  her  hands  clasped  and  with 
her  apparently  trained  voice,  like  an  experienced  leader  of 
some  praying  band,  she  was  pleading  for  her  father,  and  at 
intervals  for  herself.  At  one  period  she  said,  ‘Father,  I 
am  determined  to  go  to  heaven.  Will  you  not  come  and 
go  with  me?  O!  come  with  me  and  sister,  and  go  to 
heaven;  if  not,  then  good-bye,  father!’  This  was  like  an 
electric  shock;  every  one  felt  the  power  of  her  prayer  and 
exhortation.”  The  young  lady  was  converted  that  night, 
and  the  remainder  of  the  family  soon  followed  her.  The 
conversion  of  William  Comfort  was  also  very  striking,  and 
as  thorough  as  it  was  exciting. 

The  close  of  the  revival  left  a  membership  of  60  or  70, 
with  only  a  school  house  in  which  to  worship.  Plans  for  a 
church  were  at  once  set  on  foot.  Joel  Wood,  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Church,  but  friendly  to  every  good  work, 
donated  the  site;  the  same  upon  which  the  church  and  par¬ 
sonage  stand  to-day.  A  subscription  was  raised,  in  the  se¬ 
curing  of  which  John  Slade,  H.  P.  Williams,  and  others, 
some  of  whom  survive,  were  active  spirits  and  liberal  giv¬ 
ers.  Church,  sidewalks,  horsesheds,  fence  and  platform 
were  completed,  and  the  cost  covered  by  subscription  in  a 
short  time. 

Meantime  all  the  interests  and  meetings  were  well  sus- 
tained  in  the  school  house,  and  Brother  Cochran  went  to 
Conference  feeling  that  the  abandoned  point  of  a  year  ago, 


20 


now  the  strongest  place  on  the  Circuit,  was  such  as  any 
preacher  might  covet  to  fill.  At  this  Conference  Wheeling 
Circuit  was  divided;  Palatine  was  now  in  the  new  Elk 
Grove  Circuit,  and  so  remained  till  1868.  To  this  part  of 
the  work  Brother  Cochran  returned  for  the  second  year. 
At  last  the  new  church  was  completed,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Ryan, 
pastor  at  Clark  street,  Chicago,  was  asked  to  dedicate  it. 
Being  overburdened  with  such  calls,  he  only  consented  be¬ 
cause  the  situation  was  so  unique — a  church  complete  and 
out  of  debt  before  dedication.  But — 

“  The  best  laid  plans  o’  mice  and  men, 

Gang  aft  aglee.” 

Saturday  night  came,  but  not  so  Dr.  Ryan.  He  had 
suffered  a  most  inglorious  fall — into  a  cistern — and  the 
hopes  of  the  great  congregation  on  Sabbath  morning  were 
dashed.  But  the  brethren  would  not  hear  of  postponement 
and  fairly  compelled  the  faithful  pastor  to  preach  and  dedi¬ 
cate  the  church.  This  was  done  Nov.  14,  1858.  The  tran¬ 
sition  from  schoolliouse  to  church  gave  the  work  a  new 
impetus.  The  second  winter  saw  some  extra  services,  con¬ 
versions  and  accessions;  but  the  main  work  was  the  training 
the  converts  of  the  year  preceding.  These  as  a  rule  stood 
wTell,  and  at  the  end  of  the  pastorate  84  members  and  9  pro¬ 
bationers  were  enrolled.  Brother  Cochran  pays  eloquent 
tribute  to  the  leaders  of  those  days.  We  are  obliged  to 
condense,  but  what  we  give  will  be  in  Brother  Cochran’s 
own  language.  He  says,  “Rev.  E.  O.  Hall,  located  from 
the  Wisconsin  Conference,  was  the  Boanerges  of  the  meet¬ 
ing,  preaching  alternately  with  the  pastor.  Whatever  the 
weather,  or  roads,  his  promptness  was  one  of  the  great 
instruments  in  the  success  of  the  meeting.”  “  Thomas 
Wilson,  then  an  exhorter,  was  surpassed  by  few  in  the  ear¬ 
nestness  of  his  petitions  and  often  in  his  exhortations.” 


21 


“John  Guthrie,  long  a  class  leader,  was  very  attentive  to 
the  young  converts,  devoutly  pious,  one  of  the  best  in  selec¬ 
tion  of  suitable  hymns,  with  sweet  and  rich  voice,  ever 
ready,  always  knew  when  to  stop,  very  gifted  in  prayer. 
So  important  was  his  presence  that  a  great  power  was  want¬ 
ing  when  he  was  not  there.  If  any  one  attended  his  class, 
under  temptation,  cast  down,  almost  discouraged,  the  cheer¬ 
ful  presence  of  Brother  Guthrie  was  sure  to  help  him  out,” 
Brother  James  Wilson  received  equally  favorable  notice 
from  Bro.  C.,  but  as  he  positively  refuses  to  die,  for  the 
sake  of  eulogy  in  this  work,  some  later  historian  must 
chronicle  what  Bro.  Cochran  says  “deserves  to  be  written 
in  letters  of  gold.’’ 


Chapter  IV. 

FROM  1859  TO  1863. 

At  the  Conference  of  1859  Luke  Hitchcock  was  appoin¬ 
ted  Presiding  Elder,  but  the  General  Conference  elected 
him  Book  Agent  the  May  following,  and  the  next  year  E. 
L.  Boring  became  Presiding  Elder. 

T.  L.  Olmsted  was  in  charge  of  Elk  Grove  Circuit  from 
1859  to  1861.  His  station  this  year  (1877)  is  at  Marseilles. 
The  writer  received  from  him  an  interesting  sketch  of  his 
work.  During  the  winter  of  1885-6  Bro.  Olmsted  renewed 
his  acquaintance  in  Palatine  and  rendered  grand  assistance 
to  the  pastor  in  revival  work. 

The  following  appointments  at  this  date  composed  Elk 
Grove  Circuit;  Elk  Grove,  Palatine,  Dunton,  (now  Arling¬ 
ton  Heights),  and  English  Settlement,  (now  Meacliam),  the 


22 


pastor  preaching  at  each  place  once  in  two  weeks.  Brother 
Olmsted  bears  testimony  to  the  genuineness  of  the  revival 
under  Brother  Cochran's  labors,  and  to  the  excellent  con¬ 
dition  in  which  he  found  the  charge.  During  this  pastorate 
the  Circuit  was  again  the  scene  of  a  great  revival;  over  300 
were  converted  during  the  two  years,  over  100  of  them  at 
Palatine.  Two  new  churches  were  built  and  dedicated. 

Bro.  Olmsted  was  honored  by  preaching  the  first  sermon 
on  the  present  DesPlaines  Camp  Ground,  which  was  opened 
in  1860.  The  text  chosen  was  Matthew  3:3:  “  The  voice  of 
one  crying  in  the  wilderness,  prepare  ye  the  way  of  the 
Lord;  make  his  paths  straight.” 

As  an  indication  of  the  state  of  affairs  at  this  time  we 
mention  a  Quarterly  meeting  held  by  Presiding  Elder  Luke 
Hitchcock  in  the  spring  of  1860,  at  which  time  218  persons 
partook  of  the  Lord’s  Supper.  The  Local  Preachers  then 
on  the  Circuit  were  Caleb  Lamb,  O.  E.  Hall,  Father  Wil¬ 
liams,  Thomas  Wilson,  and  Brother  Thomas.  Several  of 
these  have  already  been  mentioned.  Caleb  Lamb  and  O. 
E.  Hall  'had  been  itinerant  preachers.  Father  Williams 
moved  from  Palatine  to  Harmony,  Ills.,  and  died  at  Riley, 
Ills.,  about  1865.  He  was  father  of  H.  P.  Williams  before 
mentioned.  Brother  Thomas  died  in  Chicago  in  1882,  and 
none  of  the  five  are  now  living.  Of  Thomas  Wilson, 
Brother  Olmsted  has  often  said  he  never  found  in  all  his 
pastorate  a  more  efficient  helper.  Indeed  the  present  wri¬ 
ter  can  testify  to  the  faithfulness  of  dear  old  ‘Wncle  Tom¬ 
my”  as  everybody  calls  him.  Until  the  last,  as  Class  Leader 
and  Local  Preacher,  he  was  always  acceptable  and  profita¬ 
ble  to  the  people;  while  he  bore  the  responsibilities  of  Stew¬ 
ard  and  Trustee  till  his  death.  No  man  was  ever  more 
missed  in  Palatine.  It  was  the  sad  duty  of  the  writer, [assis¬ 
ted  by  J.  T.  Cooper,  a  former  pastor,  to  conduct  his  funeral 


28 


services,  using  the  text  Acts  11:24,  “  He  was  a  good  man.” 
During  this  pastorate  Brother  Olmsted  gave  to  George  W. 
Hawks,  a  blacksmith  living  at  Palatine,  an  exliorter’s  license. 
Of  his  subseqent  work  in  Bock  Biver  Conference  wre  have 
already  written.  The  Class  Leaders  were  John  Guthrie 
and  Walter  Brookins.  Among  the  first  accessions,  after 
the  first  revival,  were  B.  S.  Williamson  (now  Judge)  and 
wife;  they  have  ever  since  been  identified  with  the  church. 
Jas.  F.  Sleeper  is  another  of  the  converts  still  connected  with 
the  church.  Brother  Olmsted  mentions  as  leaders  in  those 
days  the  following  brethren,  with  their  wives:  William 
Lytle,  B.  Turner,  John  Slade,  James  Wilson,  John  Patten, 
Stephen  Cherry,  A.  Harris,  B.  Andrews,  William  Comfort, 
Samuel  Switzer,  Granville  Peck  and  H.  P.  Williams.  A 
goodly  number  of  these  are  dead;  one  only  is  at  present  a 
member  at  Palatine,  James  Wilson. 

Samuel  Hewes  was  Pastor  from  1861  to  1868.  He  was 
transferred  from  the  Troy  Conference  in  1859,  and  has  re¬ 
mained  a  member  of  the  Bock  Biver  Conference  to  this 
day.  Shortly  before  coming  to  this  Conference,  at  the 
city  of  Troy,  1ST.  Y.,  Brother  Hewes  was  the  leader  of 
one  of  the  largest  revivals  the  city  ever  knew.  He  is 
now  superannuated  and  resides  at  Crete,  Ill.  We  were 
not  able  to  secure  a  personal  sketch  from  Bro.  Hewes, 
and  unfortunately  have  not  been  able  to  find  the  Quar¬ 
terly  Conference  Becords  of  this  period.  Following 
two  wide  spread  revivals,  perhaps  no  great  work  on  this 
line  could  be  expected.  The  war  was  the  all  exciting 
topic  at  this  time,  and  this  was  hardly  conducive  to  spiritu¬ 
ality.  Yet  quite  a  number  of  probationers  were  secured 
and  the  church  membership  somewhat  increased.  One 
notable  improvement  was  on  the  Sabbath  School  line.  Dur¬ 
ing  the  two  years  of  Bro.  Hewes’  pastorate  the  number  of 


24 


Sabbath  Schools  remained  the  same,  viz,  4;  but  teachers  and 
officers  increased  from  35  to  78;  scholars  from  200  to  424; 
volumes  in  library  from  700  to  1,211.  At  this  time  chil- 
dren’s  meetings  were  instituted  in  connection  with  the 
Camp  Meeting  at  DesPlaines,  and  these  had  their  share  of 
influence  upon  the  Sabbath  School  work.  Among  the  five 
Local  Preachers,  who  were  Bro.  Ilewes’  helpers,  one  is 
entitled  to  a  more  than  passing  notice.  We  refer  to  Wil¬ 
liam  H  Haight.  He  has  been  for  some  years  Secretary  of 
the  Rock  River  Conference  and  is  now  stationed  at  Grace 
Church,  Elgin.  During  the  first  three  months  of  1887,  he 
rendered  Palatine  and  its  Pastor  most  valuable  aid  in  revi¬ 
val  work.  It  will  not  be  amiss  to  say  in  passing  that  Bro. 
Hewes  has  from  his  own  family  furnished  wives  to  two  of 
our  Rock  River  preachers,  Joseph  Caldwell  and  Samuel 
Earngey.  Mrs.  Caldwell  is  well  known  as  a  veiy  successful 
revivalist. 


Chapter  Y. 

From  1863  TO  1870. 

From  1863  until  now  Palatine  has  been  a  separate  station. 
Only  once  has  it  been  since  suggested  to  make  it  apart  of  a 
Circuit  and  then  it  was  voted  down.  The  first  Preacher  in 
Charge  under  the  new  arrangement  was  Lucius  Hawkins; 
S.  P.  Keyes  was  Presiding  Elder.  Brother  Hawkins  came 
to  the  Rock  River  Conference  from  the  Southern  Illinois 
Conference  in  1861,  and  with  the  exception  of  two  years  as 
missionary  in  Memphis,  Tennessee,  he  labored  within  its 
borders  till  1871,  when  he  located.  He  still  lives  but  his 
address  could  not  be  found,  hence  we  have  no  personal 


25 


communication  from  him.  From  the  reports  however,  we 
learn  that  the  Sabbath  School  interests  were  flourishing 
greatly.  We  no  longer  have  all  the  schools  on  the  old 
Circuit,  hut  the  one  in  the  village  only;  yet  24  classes, 
5  of  them  for  adults,  and  an  average  attendance  of  160  are 
reported.  Furthermore,  general  prosperity  upon  the  charge 
and  some  conversions  are  noted.  During  the  second  year 
Bro.  Hawkins  was  removed  by  the  Bishop  and  appointed 
to  missionary  work  at  Memphis,  Tennessee.  By  unani¬ 
mous  request  of  the  Quarterly  Conference,  F.  W.  Berry,  a 
Local  Deacon,  was  appointed  by  the  Presiding  Elder,  to  fill 
out  the  year.  Bro.  Berry  was  a  young  man  of  great  prom¬ 
ise.  He  was  married  to  Eveline,  daughter  of  O.  E.  Hall. 
Ill  health  compelled  a  removal  to  Minnesota,  where  within 
a  few  months  lie  died  of  consumption.  His  earthly  remains 
lie  buried  in  the  Palatine  cemetery.  His  monument  bears 
this  inscription,  “Francis  W.  Berry,  Pastor  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  at  St.  Anthony.  Minnesota;  died  Feb.  29,  1866, 
aged  23  years,  7  months,  2  days.”  Upon  another  side  some 
verses  contain  among  other  sentiments,  this,  “  he  died  at 
his  post.” 

During  this  year  the  building  of  a  parsonage  was  dis¬ 
cussed,  a  committee  of  three  was  appointed  and  authorized 
to  buy  lots  and  build,  provided  they  did  not  incur  more 
than  $500  of  debt  beyond  the  amount  of  subscription.  At 
the  close  of  this  year  there  were  106  members  and  14  pro¬ 
bationers. 

At  the  Conference  of  1865  the  venerable  Hooper  Crews 
was  for  the  third  time  appointed  Presiding  Elder  of  Chi¬ 
cago  District.  Evidently  the  great  cry  against  “third  term” 
was  not  then  heard  in  the  land.  James  T.  Hanna,  the  son 
of  an  old  time  Methodist  preacher  was  sent  to  Palatine.  He 
is  now  preaching  at  Winfield,  in  the  S.  W.  Kansas  Con-: 


26 


\ 

ference,  where  lie  lately  served  a  term  as  Presiding  Elder. 
He  replied  to  the  request  for  information,  hut  being  a  mod¬ 
est  man.  answered  in  a  very  non-committal  way,  evidently 
preferring  to  let  others  tell  the  story.  Bro.  Hanna  was  a 
preacher  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  vivacious  and  witty, 
and  attracted  large  congrrgations.  He  was  never  caught 
napping.  It  is  reported  that  the  young  men  of  Palatine 
had  formed  quite  a  habit  of  leaving  the  church  during  ser¬ 
vice.  On  one  occasion,  when  annoyed  in  this  way  the 
preacher  retorted,  “  That's  right,  voung  men;  as  soon  as 
your  capacity  is  filled,  pass  right  out.”  It  is  needless  to  say 
he  was  not  so  troubled  again  during  that  service.  During 
liis  pastorate  a  brick  parsonage  was  completed,  situated 
opposite  the  church;  but  only  a  small  part  of  the  cost  was 
ever  subscribed  and  the  mortgage  eventually  swallowed  the 
whole;  so  that  a  score  more  years  elapsed  before  the  church 
really  owned  a  parsonage.  The  Church  Record  proves 
that  Bro.  Hanna  outstripped  all  predecessors  and  successors 
in  the  number  of  wedding  ceremonies  performed.  Wheth¬ 
er  to  credit  this  fact  to  the  popularity  of  the  preacher  or  the 
susceptibility  of  the  young  people  we  do  not  know.  A 
number  of  probationers  and  some  permanent  accessions 
were  secured,  and  this  pastorate  closed  with  112  members 
and  36  probationers,  a  considerable  gain  during  the  two 
years. 

From  1867  to  1869,  George  Wallace,  uoav  residing  at 
Boulder,  Colorado,  was  Preacher  in  Charge.  A  quotation 
from  his  first  report  to  Quarterly  Conference  will  show  the 
style  of  the  man.  Of  course  Bro.  Wallace  never  expected 
to  see  it  in  print;  for  this  very  reason  it  more  truly  repre¬ 
sents  him.  He  wrote  thus:  “  I  see  nothing  to  prevent  peace 
and  harmony  prevailing  among  us.  I  shall  seek  to  promote 
both  in  a  proper  way,  but  shall  declare  war  with  every  spe- 


27 


cies  of  sin,  whether  in  or  out  of  the  church.  I  shall  aim 
to  promote  the  spiritual  life  of  each  member  of  the  church. 
I  shall  not  ask  how  or  what  I  shall  preach;  this  lies  between 
myself  and  Him  who  called  me  to  the  work.” 

We  will  let  Bro.  Wallace  tell  the  story  of  his  pastorate 
in  his  own  words:  “  I  was  sent  to  Palatine  in  the  fall  of 
1867.  Found  a  small  church  edifice,  and  a  brick  parsonage; 
church  free  of  debt  but  a  debt  hanging  over  the  parsonage. 
General  prosperity  and  enlarged  audiences  made  it  neces¬ 
sary  to  enlarge  and  remodel  the  church  building  and  beau¬ 
tify  the  premises  with  shade  trees  and  fence.  The  good 
brethren  and  their  Pastor  undertook  and  completed  the 
needed  improvements.  I  spent  nearly  two  years  with  the 
people  of  this  charge,  and  must  say  in  truth;  they  were  two 
as  pleasant  years  as  any  in  my  ministry.  The  people  took 
complete  possession  of  my  heart  and  have  a  warm  place 
in  my  affections  today;  though  seventeen  years  have  swept 
away  since  I  took  my  farewell.  I  thought  my  heart  would 
break  after  I  entered  the  car  which  bore  us  away  toward 
our  distant  field  in  the  far  west.  Not  one  event  of  a  pain¬ 
ful  nature  took  place  during  my  pastorate.  The  member" 
ship  was  a  unit  in  sympathy  and  work.  The  regular  servi¬ 
ces  were  well  attended  and  the  Sabbath  School  grew,  until 
the  church  was  filled.” 

Among  the  members  of  that  day,  Bro.  Wallace  men¬ 
tions  as  entitled  to  prominence,  R.  S.  Williamson  and  wife; 
D.  Y.  Nason,  John  Slade,  and  Father  Fisher  and  wife. 
Following  is  his  estimate  of  those  who  have  not  previously 
received  extended  mention;  “Bro.  Nason,  who  has  passed 
beyond  the  river,  a  man  of  mild,  quiet  temper,  and  good 
sound  judgment,  true  to  his  God  and  his  church;  Palatine 
Methodism  owes  much  to  him.”  We  simply  add  that  he 
was  son  of  John  Nason,  the  early  circuit  preacher  before 


28 


mentioned.  “  Father  Slade  was  a  standard  bearer,  a  true 
lover  of  old  fashioned  Methodism;  and  had  no  sympathy 
with  any  innovations  on  the  customs  of  the  fathers.” 

“  Father  Fisher  and  his  truly  pious  wife;  were  among  my 
familiar  friends,  loving  and  loveable;  to  think  of  them  is 
pleasant.” 

The  improvements  to  the  church  already  mentioned,  cost 
about  $1,100.  The  Sabbath  School  prospered;  the  report 
shows  28  officers  and  teachers,  230  scholars,  350  volumes  in 
the  library  and  $100  raised  to  carry  on  the  schools  for  the 
year.  Before  the  close  of  the  second  year  Bro.  Wallace 
transferred  to  the  Colorado  Conference,  leaving  Palatine  in 
June,  1869.  IraB.  Henry  completed  the  year  as  Preacher 
in  Charge,  and  reported  at  its  close,  71  members  and  6 
probationers. 

At  the  Conference  of  1869  W.  C.  Dandy  became  Presi- 
siding  Elder,  and  Leonard  Clifford  Pastor  at  Palatine, 
where  he  remained  one  year.  Bro.  Clifford  now  resides  at 
Dundee,  Ills.,  where  it  was  the  pleasure  of  the  writer  to 
be  his  Pastor  for  three  years.  We  gladly  bear  testimony  to 
the  fact  that  he  was  then,  as  today,  a  pilfer  in  the  church, 
and  a  cordial  supporter  of  the  Pastor.  During  this  year 
1869-70,  some  conversions  took  place,  resulting  in  some 
permanent  accessions  to  the  church.  The  Sabbath  School 
flourished;  300  volumes  were  added  to  the  library,  and  ten 
conversions  were  reported  in  the  school. 

During  the  summer  of  1870  the  National  Camp  Meeting 
was  held  at  DesPlaines. 

Among  the  deaths  this  year  was  that  of  one  of  the  old 
leaders  we  have  already  mentioned,  Bro.  D.  Y.  Nason;  he 
was  Sabbath  School  Superintendent  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
The  year  closed  with  88  as  members,  and  15  on  probation, 


29 


Chapter  VI. 

FROM  1870  TO  1880. 

The  Preacher  in  Charge  from  1870  to  1872  was  G.  L.  8. 
Stuff,  now  stationed  at  Ashton  and  Franklin  Grove.  Bro. 
Stuff  has  been  for  about  45  years  a  member  of  Rock  River 
Conference,  and  the  greater  portion  of  the  time  in  the  active 
ranks.  During  the  war  he  was  chaplain  for  several  years. 
Having  no  personal  communication  from  Bro.  Stuff,  and 
finding  but  very  meager  records,  we  are  at  a  loss  and  cannot 
represent  this  pastorate  as  we  would  otherwise.  The  Min¬ 
utes  of  the  annual  Conference  show  a  gain  of  membership 
and  a  very  flourishing  Sabbath  School  at  the  end  of  the  first 
year.  Before  the  end  of  the  second  year  the  Pastor  was 
removed  to  another  field,  and  Presiding  Elder  Dandy  sent 
Amos  H.  Miller,  then  a  student  at  Evanston,  to  fill  out' the 
year.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  to  this  people  Sept.  1, 
1872,  and  during  the  few  weeks  before  Conference  came 
into  personai  acquaintance  with  all  members  of  the  church 
within  reach,  took  several  of  the  Conference  collections* 
received  $1  per  day  for  his  services,  and  departed  with  the 
good  will  of  all  the  brethren.  We  quote  Bro.  Miller’s  lan¬ 
guage  concerning  one  of  the  leaders  at  that  time:  “Bro. 
Ransom  Clough  met  me  at  the  train  when  I  came  and  went 
with  me  to  the  train  when  I  departed.  He  was  a  man 
whose  heart  God  had  touched;  a  true  friend  to  the  church, 
and  a  faithful  personal  friend.  I  had  during  my  later  pas¬ 
torate  the  mournful  honor  of  writing,  at  his  dictation,  his 
last  will  and  testament,  and  officiating  at  his  funeral,  preach¬ 
ing  from  the  text,  “  The  path  of  the  just  is  as  the  shining 
light,  etc.”  When  Bro.  Miller  left  Palatine  there  were  80 
members  upon  the  roll.  Bro.  Miller  entered  Rock  River 


\ 


♦ 


30 


Conference  that  year  and  has  ever  since  done  faithful  work, 
being  now  stationed  at  Morrison,  Ills.  We  shall  see  more 
of  him  in  connection  with  this  charge,  as  he  served  it  again 
at  a  later  day. 

Never  had  people  a  more  devoted  Pastor  than  Peter  K. 
Rye,  who  came  in  1872.  He  was  a  native  of  Norway,  but 
came  to  this  country  in  early  life,  and  was  converted  in  Wis¬ 
consin  when  a  }T>uth  of  about  nineteen.  He  soon  entered 
school  at  Evanston  and  entered  upon  the  work  of  the  min¬ 
istry  doing  efficient  work  in  the  Rock  River  Conference, 
also  in  Wisconsin  and  as  Missionary  in  Denmark  and  Nor¬ 
way.  He  began  his  work  in  Palatine  with  his  usual  zeal, 
and  the  work  at  every  point  felt  the  impulse  of  his  touch. 
But  his  physical  strength  was  inadequate.  For  years  con¬ 
sumption  had  threatened,  but  he  would  not  give  up  the 
work  he  loved  so  well,  and  for  months  under  great  disa¬ 
bility  he  prosecuted  his  work  and  did  it  well.  But  in 
January  he  was  no  longer  able  to  preach  and  died  on  Sun¬ 
day,  March  16,  1873.  His  death  was  calm  and  triumphant. 
Among  his  last  words  were  these,  “I  shall  be  at  home  tomor¬ 
row.”  His  very  last  distinct  utterance  was  “  Amen.”  Thus 
ended  a  life  of  sacrifice  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  His 
Church. 

William  J.  Holmes,  who  completed  the  year,  was  then 
attending  school  at  Evanston.  He  entered  Rock  River 
Conference  in  1875,  has  been  faithful  and  successful  and  is 
just  closing  a  full  term  at  Winter  St.,  Chicago.  As  to  his 
work  in  Palatine  we  quote  him:  ‘‘My  first  Sunday  in  Pala¬ 
tine  was  February  23,  1873.  I  continued  in  the  pastorate 
until  Conference.  During  my  short  pastorate  33  were  re¬ 
ceived  on  probation;  do  not  know  how  many  by  letter. 
Church  was  repaired  at  a  cost  of  $250  and  all  claims  met. 
If  I  remember  correctly,  the  clinrch  had  103  members  and 


31 


probationers  when  I  left.  Ransom  Clough  and  Father 
Peck  were  there,  happy  and  ready  to  go.”  Bro.  Holmes’ 
first  report  to  Quarterly  Conference  contained  a  beautiful 
and  well  deserved  tribute  to  Peter  C.  Kye;  it  also,  like  all 
his  reports,  showed  great  fidelity  on  the  part  of  Bro.  Holmes 
to  all  the  details  of  his  work. 

In  1873  A.  J.  Jutkins  became  Presiding  Elder,  and  Amos 
H.  Miller  Preacher  in  Charge.  He  was  the  first  preacher 
to  remain  three  years  upon  the  charge.  His  first  sermon 
was  a  fitting  key  note  to  any  pastorate.  “  Have  faith  in  God;’’ 
this  was  Sept.  28,  1873.  During  each  of  the  three  years 
there  were  ingatherings  to  the  church.  Bro.  Miller  men¬ 
tions  as  the  first  convert,  Mrs.  M.  Swick,  who  is  still  a 
member.  As  burden  bearers  in  those  years  he  mentions 
Bros.  Clough,  Wilson,  Peck,  Sleeper,  Williamson,  Harris, 
Lytle,  Clayson,  Grigg  and  Patten.  While  stationed  in  Pal" 
atine  two  items  of  great  personal  importance  to  the  Pastor 
took  place,  viz:  his  marriage  and  the  birth  of  his  first-born 
child.  Bro.  Miller  was  attentive  to  all  departments  of  his 
work;  followed  more  than  50  persons  to  the  grave,  attended 
many  weddings,  and  left  a  record  of  89  members  and  6 
probationers  at  the  close  of  his  pastorate. 

Next  came  James  W.  Lee,  then  just  returned  from  8 
years  of  missionary  labor  in  Georgia;  this  was  in  1876.  A 
six  week’s  series  of  revival  meetings  secured  15  conversions 
and  accessions  to  the  list  of  probationers.  Sunday  School 
work  was  rendered  more  efficient.  A  church  class  of  Ger¬ 
mans  was  organized  and  the  services  of  Rev.  Dueringer 
secured  to  preach  in  German  once  each  Sabbath.  The 
church  was  put  in  good  repair,  and  redecorated  throughout, 
and  a  new  library  secured  for  the  Sabbath  Scoool.  At  the 
end  of  the  year  all  desired  and  expected  Bro.  Lee’s  return, 
but  the  Quarterly  Conference  carelessly  neglected  to  say  so, 


32 


and  to  the  surprise  and  regret  of  all,  Bro.  Lee  removed  to 
Newark.  This  abrupt  termination  of  his  pastorate  gave 
Bro.  Lee  a  rather  discouraged  idea  of  his  work.  But  the 
fact  is  no  ex-pastor  is  more  often  or  more  kindly  remem¬ 
bered  in  Palatine.  His  present  charge  is  Lanark,  Ills.  He 
entered  Bock  Biver  Conference  20  years  ago.  The  year 
closed  with  19  officers  and  teachers  and  157  scholars 
in  the  Sabbath  School,  and  84  members  and  6  probationers 
on  the  church  record. 

We  have  now  reached  the  Conference  of  1877,  when 
W.  C.  Willing  became  Presiding  Elder,  and  Alonzo  New 
ton,  Pastor.  Bro.  Newton  came  from  the  Genesee  Con¬ 
ference  to  the  Bock  Biver  Conference  in  1862,  and  is  at 
present  preaching  at  Durand,  Ills.  His  pastorate  at  Pala- 
atine  was  one  }rear.  Several  causes  conspired  to  prevent 
that  measure  of  prosperity  which  the  Pastor  desired  and 
sought.  The  German  class  separated  and  became  part  of  a 
German  circuit.  Besides  this  some  leading  members  were 
seriously  embarrassed  financially.  But  in  spite  of  these 
drawbacks  some  conversions  took  place,  and  the  year  closed 
with  58  members. 

Watson  Thatcher  succeeded  him,  remaining  two  years. 
He  is  now  a  supernumerary  member  of  the  Bock  Biver 
Conference  on  account  of  impaired  health.  During  the 
second  year  of  this  pastorate  a  blessed  revival  occurred. 
The  Pastor  was  assisted  by  Miss  Emma  Dowmey,  a  revival¬ 
ist,  to  whose  efficiency  Bro.  Thatcher  testifies.  Two  ser¬ 
vices  each  day  were  held  for  four  weeks,  over  twenty  were 
received  into  the  church  on  probation,  a  goodly  number  of 
whom  became  members  in  full  in  due  time.  Many  believ¬ 
ers  were  revived  and  led  into  higher  experience.  Soon 
after  the  revival  a  temperance  revival  was  held.  Liberty 
Jones  delivered  several  lectures  to  crowded  houses,  and 


38 


during  three  weeks  of  meetings  many  signed  the  pledge. 
A  flourishing  lodge  of  Good  Templars  had  been  organized 
the  year  previous.  A  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Socie¬ 
ty  was  also  organized  and  did  good  work.  The  financial 
condition  of  the  church  was  healthy,  and  old  arrears  were 
brought  up.  Among  the  many  that  were  laid  away  to  rest 
at  this  time  was  Bro.  John  Patten,  a  pillar  in  the  church; 
class  leader  and  exhorter  for  many  years.  One  of  the 
pleasant  things  Bro.  Thatcher  recalls  is  the  gift  of  an  easy 
chair  from  his  friends  Christmas  Eve,  1879.  He  declares 
the  chair  comfortable  to  this  day.  The  record  at  the  close 
of  this  pastorate,  is  49  members  and  7  probationers. 


Chapter  VII. 

FROM  1880  TO  1887. 

Next  came  Joseph  T.  Robert,  formerly  a  Baptist  preacher 
received  by  Conference  this  year.  The  writer  know^s  Bro. 
Robert  as  a  scholarly  and  able  man,  but  has  not  the  details 
at  hand  with  which  to  represent  his  work  in  Palatine.  One 
feature  was  an  evening  class  for  Bible  study,  which  was 
well  attended  and  profitable.  Bro.  Robert  was  regularly 
appointed  to  charges  in  Rock  River  Conference  till  1886,  but 
did  not  fill  out  his  term  in  the  latter  year,  and  is  now  preach¬ 
ing,  we  believe,  for  some  other  denomination.  The  record 
at  the  end  of  the  year  showed  46  members  and  2  proba¬ 
tioners. 

In  1881  the  venerable  Luke  Hitchcock  was  again  ap¬ 
pointed  Presiding  Elder  of  Chicago  District,  the  position 


34 


lie  had  vacated  20  years  before  when  elected  Book  Agent. 

For  the  next  two}Tears,  1881-3.  J.  T.  Cooper  was  Preach¬ 
er  in  Charge  at  Palatine.  He  has  been  for  over  20  years  a 
member  of  Rock  River  Conference;  his  present  appoint¬ 
ment  is  Newark,  Ills.  A  short  series  of  revival  services 
the  first  year  resulted  in  some  conversions.  Further  than 
that  Bro.  Cooper  characterized  the  time  as  “two  very  fair 
years,  a  steady  Christian  living  by  members  generally,  and 
many  of  the  services  were  exceedingly  impressive.”  One 
pleasant  feature  of  the  second  year  was  a  lecture  course 
of  fine  character  and  well  patronized.  The  year  closed 
with  48  members. 

At  the  Conference  of  1883  a  change  of  District  bounda¬ 
ries  placed  Palatine  in  Rockford  District,  where  C.  E.  Man- 
deville  was  completing  his  term  as  Presiding  Elder.  In 
the  appointments  made  by  the  Bishop  Palatine  was  left  “  to 
be  supplied.”  The  Presiding  Elder  sent  to  the  charge  W. 
H.  Gannaway,  a  member  of  one  of  the  Illinois  Conferen¬ 
ces,  then  attending  Garrett  Biblical  Institute  at  Evanston. 
At  his  graduation  in  1887,  he  transferred  to  Kansas,  where 
he  is  now  preaching;  his  appointment  being  Apple  River. 
This  makes  two  ex- pastors  of  Palatine  now  in  the  S.  W. 
Kansas  Conference.  As  the  writer  succeded  Bro.  Ganna¬ 
way  on  this  charge,  and  was  succeeded  by  him  at  Dundee, 
Ills. ,  he  feels  qualified  to  say  that  both  as  a  man  and  preacher 
he  won  general  respect.  He  served  the  Palatine  church  one 
year  faithfully;  and  taking  into  account  his  residence  at  Ev¬ 
anston,  his  reports  showT  most  devoted  and  faithful  pastoral 
labor.  Some  extra  meetings  were  held  which  were  profita¬ 
ble  and  fruitful.  Some  conversions  took  place  during  the 
year,  and  the  record  at  the  close  showed  43  members  and 
4  probationers. 

During  the  last  three  years,  1884-7,  the  writer,  Henry 


35 


Lea,  has  been  in  charge,  and  G.  R.  Vanliorne  Presiding 
Elder.  Revival  services  have  been  held  each  year,  seven 
weeks  the  first  year,  five  weeks  the  second  year,  and  twelve 
weeks  the  third  year.  Borne  results  were  secured  each 
year,  but  not  in  large  measure  till  the  third  year.  At  this 
time  a  number  of  ministers  assisted  the  pastor,  among  the 
number,  W.  H.  Haight  who  had  preached  on  the  charge  25 
years  before.  Over  ninety  inquirers,  seventy-five  professed 
conversions  and  fifty  accessions  to  the  church  were  the 
fruits  of  this  meeting.  A  portion  of  these  probationers 
have  been  received  into  full  membership,  and  it  is  hoped 
the  greater  portion  will  be.  One  of  the  earliest,  youngest’ 
and  most  faithful  of  last  winter’s  converts,  Eddie  Wanegar, 
met  with  a  sudden  death,  April  17,  1887,  that  never-to  be- 
forgotten  Sunday  when  the  bursting  of  the  railroad  tank 
sent  five  souls  into  eternity.  For  Eddie  it  was  a  speedy 
and  joyful  translation.  During  this  pastorate  a  parsonage 
was  built,  the  church  remodeled  and  re-decorated  through¬ 
out,  barn  and  horse-sheds  built,  the  whole  at  a  cost  of  $2500 
The  church  was  re-opened  Dec.  20,  1885.  Presiding  Elder 
Vanliorne  was  unable  to  be  present,  but  ex-Presiding  Elder 
Mandeville  did  royal  service,  preaching  in  the  morning  and 
conducting  the  finances  throughout  the  day,  nearly  $900 
being  pledged  during  these  services.  In  the  afternoon  an 
address  from  T.  L.  Olmsted,  a  former  pastor,  and  letters 
from  other  pastors,  Thos.  Cochran,  J.  W.  Lee,  A.  H.  Mil¬ 
ler  and  W.  H.  Holmes,  were  enjoyed  by  the  congregation. 
W.  H.  Haight  of  Grace  church,  Elgin,  preached  in  the 
evening.  The  services  of  the  day  closed  with  the  Sacra¬ 
ment  of  the  Lord’s  Supper. 

A  few  months  later  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  which  had  been  some  years  dead,  was  revived  and 
is  now  in  a  very  flourishing  condition.  All  the  benevolen- 


36 


ces  of  the  Church  have  received  a  great  impetus,  amount' 
ing  the  past  year  to  about  $250.  The  Sabbath  School  has 
generally  maintained  a  steady  growth,  especially  in  the  In¬ 
fant  and  Intermediate  grades.  Over  one  hundred  volumes 
have  been  added  to  the  library.  Through  the  efforts  of  the 
choir  a  new  organ  has  been  placed  in  the  church,  while  the 
ladies  have  carpeted  the  church,  and  just  now  are  procuring 
new  pulpit  furniture. 

Two  prayer  meetings  each  week  are  generally  well  sus¬ 
tained  and  a  weekly  children’s  class,  and  all  feel  as  though 
the  tide  had  at  last  turned  in  favor  of  Palatine  Methodism. 
In  mentioning  the  other  good  things  the  writer  would  not 
forget  the  gift  of  a  fine  horse  from  generous  friends  on 
Christmas  Eve.,  1886,  which  he  hopes  will  yet  bear  him  on 
many  an  errand  in  the  Master’s  name. 

Among  the  thirty  or  more  departed,  whose  funerals  the 
pastor  conducted  in  whole  or  in  part,  we  mention  the  fol¬ 
lowing,  who  at  the  time  of  their  death  were  members  of 
the  church,  viz:  Lillis  Patten,  Olive  Peck,  Rev.  T.  Wilson, 
Mary  White.  The  first  two  were  widows  of  staunch  old 
Methodists,  and  lived  to  a  good  old  age  in  the  Master’s  ser¬ 
vice;  their  memory  is  precious.  Of  Bro.  Wilson  we  have 
spoken  in  full  elsewhere.  Sister  White  had  been  but  a  few 
years  a  Methodist,  coming  to  us  from  the  Baptist  Church. 
She  was  an  earnest,  active  Christian  woman.  So  one  by  one 
the  Master  buries  His  workmen  but  carries  on  His  work. 

Although  to  pass  from  the  subject  of  death  to  that  of 
birth,  is  a  very  abrupt  change,  we  cannot  forbear  mention¬ 
ing  the  first  birth  in  the  new  parsonage  which  occurred 
Feb.  28,  1886,  viz:  that  of  Carl  Henry  Lea,  the  firstborn  in 
the  Pastor’s  family. 

On  Sunday,  September  18,  1887,  a  very  interesting  Sab¬ 
bath  was  spent  in  celebrating  the  semi-centennial  of  Metli- 


37 


oclism  in  the  vicinity.  In  the  morning  the  pastor  preached 
from  “  Other  men  labored,  and  ye  are  entered  into  their 
labors.”  In  the  evening  James  Wilson,  Judge  Williamson 
and  the  pastor  made  addresses,  and  fourteen  former  pastors 
were  represented  by  written  communications.  At  the  morn¬ 
ing  service  four  adults  and  one  infant  were  baptised,  and 
fifteen  were  received  from  probation  into  full  connection 
in  the  church. 

The  record  of  membership  at  this  date  consists  of  82 
members  and  34  probationers.  These  are  reported  by  name 
in  the  next  chapter. 

May  God,  who  has  so  signally  been  with  this  church 
in  all  of  its  triumphs  and  reverses,  lead  it  forward  till  it 
sliall  be  a  leader  among  the  churches,  excelling  in  every 
good  work. 


Chapter  VIII. 

Present  Membership— Officiary  of  Church  and 

Sabbath  School. 


The  present  list  of  officials  of  the  church,  names  those 
elected  for  the  year  1887-8,  as  the  terms  of  office  of  the  old 
board  will  have  expired  before  this  is  in  print. 

Board  of  Stewards. — Judge  R.  S.  Williamson,  James 
Wilson,  William  Nason,  James  T.  Sleeper,  E.  F.  Baker, 
Dr.  F.  E.  Wadliams,  B.  R.  Coltrin,  Mrs.  Mary  Schaeffer, 
Miss  Yash ti  Lambert. 


Board  oj  Trustees. — James  Wilson,  Judge  R.  S.  Wil¬ 
liamson,  William  Nason,  George  Grigg,  James  T.  Sleeper, 
Charles  Nason,  Dr.  F.  E.  Wadliams,  William  Hicks,  John 
Wilson. 

Class  leaders,— S,  Williamson,  B,  R.  Coltin, 


38 


Assistant  Class  Leaders. — Edward  E.  Schaeffer,  Mrs.  M. 
Mrs.  Wadhams,  V.  Lambert. 

Sexton. — Wm.  Babcock. 

Ushers. — Charles  Nason,  E.  F.  Baker. 

Organist. — Miss  Edith  White. 

QUARTERLY  CONFERENCE  COMMITTEES. 

Missions. — R.  S.  Williamson,  F.  E.  Wadhams. 

Church  Extension. — George  Andermann,  J.  T.  Sleeper. 
Sabbath  School. — George  Grigg,  James  Wilson. 

Tracts. — Mrs.  Mary  Schaeffer,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Smith. 
Temperance. — Vasliti  Lambert,  E.  E.  Schaeffer. 
Education. — E.  F.  Baker,  Lena  Andermann. 

Church  Records. — Wm.  Nason,  B.  R.  Coltrin,  R.  S 
Williamson. 

Parsonage  and  Parsonage  Furniture. — Mrs.  Williamson, 
Mrs.  James  Wilson,  Mrs.  Baker,  Mrs.  Wadhams,  Mrs. 
John  Wilson. 

Music. — B.  R.  Coltrin.  Mrs.  Wadhams,  Nida  Feldman. 
Estimating  Salary. — James  Wilson,  R.  S.  Williamson, 
Dr.  Wadhams,  Wm.  Nason,  J.  T.  Sleeper. 


MEMBERSHIP. 


If  this  list  could  be  prepared  a  few  weeks  later,  some 
names  in  the  list  of  probationers  would  appear  as  full  mem¬ 
bers,  and  possibly  others  would  have  requested  a  withdrawal 
of  their  names,  but  as  we  cannot  wait  we  simply  give  the 
Church  Roll  as  it  appears  at  this  writing.  For  convenience 
we  give  the  list  in  the  separate  classes. 


CLASS  No.  1 — Meets  Sunday  Noon. 


Alexander,  Louisa. 
Anderman,  George. 
Anderman,  Mina. 
Brown,  Sarah  A. 
Baker,  E.  F. 

Baker,  Eleanor. 
Baldwin,  Anson  R. 
Baldwin,  Maryetta  C. 


“^  lAA  '  ’  AAA  9 

Clay,  Clara. 


Nason,  Charles. 
Nason,  William. 
Nason,  Sarah. 

Purdy,  Harry. 
Richmond,  Matthew. 
Richmond,  Emil}7. 
Sleeper,  James  T. 
Sleeper,  Harriet. 
Slade,  Sophrona. 
Swick,  Charlotte. 


Coleman,  Emeline. 


39 


Clingman,  D.  S. 
Fenton,  Betsy  M. 
Fenton,  Elislia. 

Fry,  Sarah. 

Fay,  Lavina. 

Filbert,  Susan. 
Filbert,  Fred.  J. 
Grigg,  George. 
Grigg,  Martha. 
Grigg,  Mattie. 
Gainor,  Harriet. 
Hicks,  Lydia  R. 
Keyes,  Cordelia. 
Lindsey,  Alice, 

Lea,  Fannie  S. 
Lytle,  Thankful. 

Baldwin,  Elodie  M. 
Baldwin,  Edna  M. 

CLASS  No. 


Schaeffer,  Mary. 
Schaeffer,  Edward  E. 
Schaeffer,  Elizabeth. 
Sleeper,  Jennie  M. 
Sleeper,  Mary  E. 
Thurston,  Mary. 
Wilson,  Mary. 

Wilson,  James 
Wilson,  Nettie  H. 
Williamson,  R.  S. 
Williamson,  Emma  Y. 
Whipple,  Mrs. 

Wilson,  Mrs.  John. 
Wilson,  Mrs.  Wm. 
Wilson,  JohnW. 
Wilson,  Janaetta  B. 

PROBATIONERS. 

Filbert,  William  J. 
Nason,  Laura  J. 

2. — Meets  Sunday  Evening. 


Leader . — B.  R.  Coltrin. 

Assistants. — Mrs.  Wadliams.  Vashti  Lambert. 


Anderman,  Lena. 
Baker,  James  R. 
Baker,  WelthaMay. 
Bissell,  Jane  M. 
Burrill,  William. 
Coltrin,  B.  R. 

Coltrin,  Mrs. 
Clingman,  Lillian  A. 
Drew,  Luella. 
Fehlman,  Nida. 
Fenton,  Frank  E. 
Hipwell,  Laura  R. 
Keyes,  Addie  P. 
Lambert,  Vashti. 

Lea,  Jessie  E.  W. 


Peck,  Lyman. 

Peck,  Amanda. 
Smith,  JohnW. 
Smith,  Carrie. 
Smith,  Dellie. 
Smith,  Matilda. 
Sawyer,  Laura. 
Williams,  Emma  P. 
Wightman,  Kate  R. 
Wilson,  Frank. 
Wadliams,  Marv  S. 
Wanegar,  Jacob. 
Wanegar,  Barbara. 
Wadhams,  F.  E. 
White,  Bert  H. 


PROBATIONERS. 


Fox,  Trixie. 

Fox,  Ida  A. 
Whipple,  Nellie  M, 
Hurd,  Minnie  E. 


White,  William  C. 
Whitney,  Frank  O. 
Esterbrook,  Mary  N. 
Ester  brook,  Robert  L. 


40 


White,  Edith  M. 
Wightman,  Herbert. 
Wightman,  Mary  R. 
Richardson,  F.  P. 
Richardson,  Mary  M. 
Smith,  Bertsall  L. 
Bissell,  Lee. 

Johnson,  May. 
Coltrin,  Ceola  A. 
Keyes.  01  lie  L. 

Lytle,  Emily  G. 


Lytle,  Charles  W. 
Wightman,  Joseph  P. 
Wilson,  Anna. 

Lytle,  Matilda. 

Hip  well,  Brackett  E, 
Lytle  Gertrude  A. 
Bennett,  Myrtle. 
White,  Harry  A. 


Williamson,  Jennie  M. 
Mead,  Minnie. 

Helm,  Joseph  C. 


CHILDREN’S  CLASS — Fannie  S.  Lea,  Leader — Meets 

Thursday  Afternoon. 


SABBATH  SCHOOL. — Meets  Sabbath  Morning. 

Superintendent. — R.  S.  AYilliamson. 

Assistant  Superintendent. — E.  F.  Baker. 

Secretary. — Minnie  Hurd. 

Treasurer. — George  Anderman,  Jr. 

Treasurer  of  Miss.  Society. — E.  E.  Schaeffer. 

Chorister. — B.  R.  Coltrin. 

Organist. — Nida  Felhman. 

Librarian. — Charles  Nason . 

Assistant  Librarians. — Laura  Nason,  Mrs.  Lindsay. 

Teachers , — The  Pastor;  B.  R.  Coltrin,  Mrs.  Wadhams, 
Fannie  S.  Lea,  E.  E.  Schaeffer,  Nida  Feldman,  Mag.e 
Grigg,  Mrs.  John  Wilson,  Miss  Alexander,  Vasliti  Lambert, 
Mrs.  Mary  Schaeffer. 

WOMAN  S  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 

Business  Meeting  and  Tea,  on  the  last  Saturday  of  each 
month.  The  officers  elect  for  the  year  beginning  October 
1,  1877,  are  as  follows: 

President. — Mrs.  Reynolds. 

Vice-President . — Mrs.  M.  Schaeffer. 

Recording  Secretary. — Mrs.  Hipwell. 

Treasurer , — Mrs.  A.  L.  Smith. 

Corresponding  Secretary. — Yashti  Lambert. 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  LADIES’  MITE  SOCIETY. 
President — Mrs.  Jas.  Wilson.  Sec' y — Mrs.  J.  P.  Wightman, 


jj; iCBOLS  & 


WHOLESALE  &  RETAIL  BUTCHERS, 


HP  ala,  tine,  Illinois. 


ANDERMAN  &  GO. 


DEALERS  IN- 


MBER,  BLINDS,  DOORS 


Also  Bran,  Corn,  Oats  and  all  kinds  of  Feed. 

Palatine,  Illinois. 


Elevator  near  the  Railway  Depot.  ; 


* 


J.  H.  SCHIRDING  &  CO. 


- DEALERS  IN - 

DRY  GOODS,  GROCERIES,  HATS  AND  CAPS, 


BOOTS  AND  SHOES, 

Crockery  and  General  Merchandise, 


Palatine,  Illinois. 


ABLEMAN  &  OST, 


- DEALERS  IN - 

GRAIN,  SEEDS,  HARD  AND  SOFT  COAL. 

Also  Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealers  in 

Flour,  Salt,  Bran,  Feed,  Corn,  &c. 

Highest  Market  Price  paid  lor  Farm  Produce.  Elevator  near  Depot. 

Also  Manufacturers  of 

SASH,  DOORS,  BLINDS  AND  OTHER  WOOD  WORK, 


And  all  kinds  of  FLAX  TOW. 

FEED  GROUND  to  order  at  Steam  Mill,  PALATINE,  ILL. 


HENR  Y  HUTCHINSON, 


PRACTICAL  HORSESHOER, 


Palatine,  Illinois. 


Is  prepared  to  shoe  all 
horses  with  neatness  and 
dispatch.  All  horses  en¬ 
trusted  to  him  will  be  shod 
in  a  scientific  manner  and  first-class  work 
guaranteed.  All  Diseases  of  Horses’’  Feet 
Cured.  Examination  free. 


ID.  IB.  WOOD, 

- DEALER  IN - 


SEWIJNJG  MASHINES,  &<3. 


PALATINE, 


Illinois. 


R.  M.  Putnam,  D.  D.  S. 


[C.  VV.  Coltrin,  D.  D.  S. 


PUTNAM  &  COLTRIN , 

SURG-EOIST  DIEHSTTISTS 


Palatine  and  Barrington,  III. 


Teeth  inserted  on  Gold,  Silver,  Alumnium  and  Rubber 
Base.  Crown  Work  a  Specialty. 


DR.  E.  W.  OLCOTT, 

After  sixteen  years  of  practice  in  Palatine  and  vicinity, 
wishes  to  inform  the  public,  that  he  is  still  in  the  held, 
and  is  prepared  to  do  all  kinds  of  work  in  the  highest 
style  of  art;  and  makes  a  specialty  of  Gold  Work  and 
the  Preserving  of  Old  Roots  by  Crowning. 

Teeth  Extracted  without  Pain. 

Plates  of  all  kinds.  Work  Guaranteed  and  done  at 
Popular  Prices. 


Batterman  Block,  Palatine. 


B.  R.  GOLTRIN, 


DEALER  IN 


ANOS,  ORGANS,  BAND  INSTRUMENTS, 


Sheet  Music  and  Musical  Merchandise. 


Organ  23,epa,irl ng  a,  Specialty. 

Palatine,  III. 


J.  W.  WILSON, 

DEALE HR,  LET  HORSES, 

Fine  Coach  and  Carriage  Horses 
constantly  on  hand. 

600  ACRES  CONSTANTLY  DEVOTED  TO 
FEEDING  CITY  HORSES. 

RESIDENCE  AND  FARM,  PALATINE,  ILL. 

City  Stables,  2  to  10  Monroe  St.,  Chicago. 


JOHN  ASMUS, 


WAT6HJVI A^ER &  JEWELER 


All  kinds  of  Fine  Repairing  a  specialty. 


Work  well  and  promptly  done. 


Masonic  Block,  -  -  -  Palatine,  III. 


ERNST  PRELLBERG , 


Palatine,  Ills. 

MERCHANT  TAILOR 

AND  DEALER  IN 

READY-MADE  CLOTHING. 


Orders  Promptly  Filled.  Work  and  Fit  guaranteed* 


F.  E.  WAD  1 1  AMS, 


PHYSICIAN  AND  SURGEON, 


PALATINE,  ILL. 


JAMES  WILSON,  • 


Palatine,  Ills. 

FIFTEEN  YEARS  TINT  THE  BUSINESS. 

Evergreens  and  Shade  Trees  of  every  variety. 
All  kinds  of  Fruit  Trees  and  Small  Fruits. 
A  variety  of  Roses  and  Shrubs. 

PRICES  LOW.  QUALITY  GUARANTEED. 


